Rotorcraft Report: New MD500E for Hawaii County

Hawaii County is getting a new MD500E to replace its aging Chopper One. The new helicopter, which the Hawaii County Fire Department will operate, will handle rescue services and be based at Waiakea Fire Station. HCFD Chief Darryl J. Oliveira says that buying the new MD500E makes more economic sense in the long run, given that the 27-year-old Chopper One would require $800,000 to refurbish. "The older an aircraft gets, the more expensive it gets to maintain it," Oliveira told West Hawaii Today. Instead, MD Helicopters is giving Hawaii County $238,000 trade-in credit on the old Chopper One.